Adjustable ironing board cabinet

ABSTRACT

An ironing board device having a housing and an ironing board having a proximal end and a distal end. The ironing board is moveably connected to the housing for movement between a substantially vertical storage position wherein the ironing board proximal end is above the ironing board distal end, to a substantially horizontal operating position wherein the ironing board proximal end is closer to the housing than the ironing board distal end. A rod attaches to the proximal end of the ironing board. The housing defines grooves shaped and sized to receive the rod and provide securement at a plurality of elevations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional application claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/534,215 filed Nov. 10, 2011, and which isincorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to ironing boards for use with an iron to ironclothes, and more specifically to storage devices for storing ironingboards. Ironing board storage devices have taken a variety ofconstructions, but typically have been comprised of a retractableironing board movably mounted within a cabinet that is concealed in aninterior cavity of a wall. The cabinet is installed at an appropriateheight so that the ironing board can be rotated downwardly to agenerally horizontal operating position relative to the floor. When notin use, the ironing board can be rotated upwardly to a generallyvertical position within the cabinet for storage and a door closed toconceal the ironing board.

These types of ironing board storage devices are installed by makinglarge openings in an existing wall and properly supporting the storagedevice from support studs or the like, which calls for the use of manytools and a great deal of manual labor. For this reason, once thedevices are installed they are rarely removed, making the installationeffectively permanent. In addition, the location of the storage deviceis limited by the location of the support studs in the wall. Therefore,these types of ironing board storage devices are not moveable oradjustable in either a vertical or horizontal position.

Therefore, there has been a need for an ironing board device that isadjustable during operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable ironing board device in anoperating position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the adjustable ironing boarddevice in a storage position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the adjustable ironing boarddevice with a door in an open position and the ironing board in thestorage position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the adjustable ironing boarddevice in the operating position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the adjustable ironing boarddevice in an adjusted position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adjustment assembly in a bottomposition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an adjustment assembly in anintermediate position; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an adjustment assembly in a topposition.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates the claimed invention byway of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearlyenables one skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, describesseveral embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses ofthe disclosure, including what is presently believed to be the best modeof carrying out the claimed invention. Additionally, it is to beunderstood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and the arrangements of components set forth inthe following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosureis capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carriedout in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseologyand terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and shouldnot be regarded as limiting.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, an embodiment of the present invention, generallyreferred to as an ironing board device 10, includes an ironing board 12with a distal end 32 and a proximal end 34 moveably mounted, preferablypivotally, such as with a hinge, within a housing 14, and an adjustablesupport assembly 16 operatively engaged with the ironing board 12 thatprovides for movement of the ironing board 12 between a plurality ofelevations and angular positions. In addition, the support assembly 16secures the ironing board 12 in the operating position.

The housing 14 is a generally rectangular box having sidewalls 20extending from a rear panel 22 to define a cavity 26 for storing theironing board 12. A door 28 is moveably mounted to the housing 14 aswith door hinges 30, drawer slides or the like, so that the door 28pivots between an open position and a closed position. Although theembodiment of FIGS. 1-8 discloses the door 28 mounted with hinges 30,those skilled in the art will recognize that the door 28 can be also useany method known in the art, such as slides. In alternate embodiments,the door can be removed altogether or replaced with various coverings tovisually hide the interior of the housing, such as a collapsible screenor panel, a retractable shade, bi-fold door, and the like.

The ironing board 12 is embodied as a typical ironing board with agenerally rectangular proximal portion 32 and a generally narrowing nosedistal portion 34, such as a narrowing nose, the proximal portion 32being moveably mounted, preferably pivotally, at a lower end of thecavity 26 and supported by the adjustable support assembly 16. However,those skilled in the art will recognize that any shape of ironing boardcan be used. A cover 36 fits over the ironing board 12 and comprises abinding (not shown), including but not limited to a bungee cord,elastic, or drawstring, positioned around the perimeter of the cover 36for securing the cover 36 to the ironing board 12. The cover 36 can bemade of cotton as known in the art, or can be made from material withburn/scorch resistant characteristics, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,566,481. In other embodiments, the cover 36 includes multiplelayers of materials, including but not limited to a layer of foampadding.

A heat-resistant and waterproof panel can be secured to the ironingboard cover 36, such as the panel disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/221,069, hereby incorporated by reference, for preventingdamage to the cover 36 by an iron (not shown). When the iron is placedwith an ironing surface facing the panel, the iron is supported byprotuberances so that a gap is formed between the ironing surface andthe iron to allow steam to flow through the gap about the protuberancesand condense in the basin. Those skilled in the art will recognize thatother heat-resistant and/or waterproof panels can be used. While thepresent embodiment shows a generally rectangular shaped panel secured toa rear portion of the cover 36, other shapes, including but not limitedto circular, trapezoidal, or oblong can be provided. Further, othersizes and locations can be used. If desired, the ironing board device 10can be used without the waterproof panel.

The support assembly 16 includes a support platform 50 pivotallymounted, such as with a fastener, busing, or bearing, at one end to theunderside of the ironing board 12. The pivoting connection allows theironing board 12 to adjust angularly relative to the housing 14. Theopposite end of the platform 50 is attached to a generally linear rod 52that is shaped and sized for moveable engagement with the housing 14.The inner face of the sidewalls 20 define a pair of grooves 54 shapedand sized to receive the linear rod 52 and provided guidance of thelinear rod 52 between different elevations.

Each groove 54 includes an upper arc 56 and an overlapping lower arc 58which define three notches 60 sized and shaped to receive the linear rod52 for securement at a predetermined elevation. Each end of the linearrod 52 engages a corresponding groove 54 so that the linear rod 52 canmove along the grooves 54 between the notches 60 for positioning atdifferent elevations. The linear rod 52 can pivot along a longitudinalaxis within the grooves 54 to pivot the ironing board between an openand closed position. Those skilled in the art will recognize that anynumber of arcs and notches can be used to define any number ofelevations.

A brace 62 moveable attaches between a bottom sidewall 20 of the housing14, such as with a hinge, and to the support platform 50, such as with ahinge, to secure the ironing board 12 in a generally horizontal positionwhen in the open position.

Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing fromthe scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ironing board device, comprising: a housing;an ironing board having a proximal end and a distal end, the ironingboard being moveably connected to the housing for movement between asubstantially vertical storage position wherein the ironing boardproximal end is above the ironing board distal end, to a substantiallyhorizontal operating position wherein the ironing board proximal end iscloser to the housing than the ironing board distal end; a rod moveablyattached to the proximal end of the ironing board; and wherein thehousing defines grooves shaped and sized to receive the rod and providesecurement at and movement between a plurality of elevations.
 2. Theironing board device of claim 1, wherein the ironing board is moveablymounted to the rod for movement between a plurality of angularpositions.
 3. The ironing board device of claim 1, further comprising, abrace attached between the housing and the ironing board for securementof the ironing board in a generally horizontal position.
 4. The ironingboard device of claim 1, wherein each groove defines arcuately shapedportions that extend between a plurality of notches, the notches beingpositioned the plurality of elevations and configured for securement ofan end of the rod.
 5. The ironing board device of claim 1, wherein thehousing is configured for mounting to a wall.
 6. The ironing boarddevice of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a rear panel, sidewallsextending from the rear panel to define a cavity for receiving theironing board, and a door moveably attached to the rear panel or thesidewalls for movement between an open and closed position.
 7. Anironing board cabinet, comprising: a housing; an ironing board having aproximal end and a distal end, the ironing board being moveablyconnected to the housing for movement between a substantially verticalstorage position wherein the ironing board proximal end is above theironing board distal end, to a substantially horizontal operatingposition wherein the ironing board proximal end is closer to the housingthan the ironing board distal end; and a support assembly operativelyengaged with the ironing board for movement and securement of theironing board at a plurality of elevations.
 8. The ironing board cabinetof claim 7, wherein the support assembly comprises: a rod moveablyattached to the proximal end of the ironing board; and wherein thehousing defines grooves shaped and sized to receive the rod and providesecurement at and movement between a plurality of elevations.
 9. Theironing board cabinet of claim 7, wherein each groove defines aplurality of arcuately shaped portions that extend between a pluralityof notches, the notches being positioned at the plurality of elevationsand configured for securement of an end of the rod.
 10. The ironingboard cabinet of claim 7, wherein the support assembly comprises, asupport platform moveably mounted between the ironing board and the rodfor movement of the ironing board between a plurality of angularpositions.
 11. The ironing board cabinet of claim 7, further comprising,a brace attached between the housing and the support assembly forsecurement of the ironing board in a generally horizontal position. 12.The ironing board cabinet of claim 7, wherein the housing is configuredfor mounting to a wall.
 13. An ironing board device, comprising: ahousing; an ironing moveably connected to the housing for movementbetween a substantially vertical storage position and a substantiallyhorizontal operating position; a rod moveably attached to the ironingboard; and wherein the housing defines a plurality of arcuately shapedgrooves extending between a plurality of notches, the grooves andnotches configured for movement between and securement at a plurality ofelevations.
 14. The ironing board device of claim 13, wherein theironing board is moveably mounted to the rod for movement between aplurality of angular positions.
 15. The ironing board device of claim13, further comprising, a brace attached between the housing and theironing board for securement of the ironing board in a generallyhorizontal position.
 16. The ironing board device of claim 13, whereinthe housing is configured for mounting to a wall.
 17. The ironing boarddevice of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a rear panel, sidewallsextending from the rear panel to define a cavity for receiving theironing board, and a door moveably attached to the rear panel or thesidewalls for movement between an open and closed position.